Alleygates plan given go ahead

Almost 40 new alleygates in Preston have been rubberstamped by planners.

The gates, around Wellington Road, Waterloo Terrace, Waterloo Road and Tulketh Road in Ashton have been approved by Preston Council and will now go back for a further round of consultation with residents.

Coun Elizabeth Atkins, who represents Ashton on the council, said: “Planning permission has now been given and it’s now open again for residents to express their views.

“I have had a couple of constituents who weren’t happy for various reasons, but most people really want them.

“It’s all to do with security. There’s plenty of research to suggest that if you put boundaries around your home it acts as a deterrent.

“Ashton is a lovely area and we have a lot of terraces and they have a lot of little alleys.

“Ashton is not a hotspot for crime. It’s a preventative thing.”

The scheme was given the go-ahead at a meeting on Monday.

In planning documents, Preston Council, which put the scheme forward, said ‘the proposal seeks to issues of crime and anti-social behaviour as identified by the police.’

A number of similar gating schemes have already been put in alleyways across the city as part of the scheme.

Coun Atkins said: “Some people think it is a bad marker. I don’t think that is the case.

“It is Ashton Conservation Area but I think the gates will fit in quite nicely.

“I understand people being a little bit cautious, but it’s a preventative thing.”